摘要：Introduction. We investigated emerging trends in consuming behaviours for non-controlledsubstances in a cross sectional study on urban Italian adolescents and youngadults, the reasons for consumption and risk perception as function of age, the relationwith lifestyles and finally risk factors associated.Methods. The survey methodology involved the administration of an anonymous questionnaire.It consisted of 68 questions, divided into five sections: personal details, socioeconomiccharacteristics, family and peer group, free time and lifestyles, and substancesuse.Results. A total of 2621 adolescents and young adults (14-35 years old) from seven differentItalian cities answered the questionnaire. The substances examined were mainlyused recreationally (alcohol, energy drinks and smart-drugs) or to improve physical andsexual performance (physical performance-enhancing drugs, anabolic steroids and malesexual enhancement). The knowledge of the health related harm arising from the useof these products was very high for alcohol (> 90%), high for smart-drugs (> 70%), butsignificantly lower for anabolic steroids, drugs for sexual enhancement (~ 60%), physicalperformance-enhancing drugs or energy drinks (~ 55%). The principal risks factors forconsumption were: the influence of friends (OR: 8.8), attending recreational places (OR:5.4) aged between 25-35 years (OR: 3.0), be male (OR: 2.5) and having a bad relationshipwith the mother (OR: 2.1).Conclusions. These results have implication for prevention and early intervention programsof “physically and psychologically enhancing” non controlled substances use,which similarly to what is frequently advised for classical illicit drugs should focus on informationcampaigns and awareness initiatives especially addressed to young male adultswho go clubbing, live outside the family and showed closed links with peers.
关键词：emerging trends; population based study; behaviour; Italy
